Tedious rail crossing to be removed from Bentleigh

Level crossings throughout Melbourne cause congested chaos everyday, but fortunately that is soon to change.

The 2015-16 Victorian budget has put forward up to $2.4billion to fund the removal of 50 of Victoria's busiest, and consequently most dangerous crossings.

The first 17 removals, which include Centre Road, are expected to be completed by 2018, which will have a positive impact on real estate in Bentleigh.

The government will be combining line closures in order to ensure that work goes smoothly. This will also mean less disruptions to rail and road users in the area.

"By packaging these level crossing removals, we will deliver them faster, cheaper and with less disruption," said Jacinta Allan, minister for public transport.

What's the hold up?

Every morning in the peak period (7 a.m. – 9 a.m.) the boom gates in Bentleigh are down 31.6 per cent of the time, according to research from the government.

Astonishingly, this means that during this busy time, the gates are holding up motorists for a combined total of 38 minutes.

"This data shows the frustration, delay and distress these level crossings create every morning," said Daniel Andrews, premier of Victoria.

What does it mean for property in Bentleigh?

The popularity of new homes has continued to climb across Australia, with new house sales continually increasing in the first four months of this year, according to a recent report from the Housing Industry Association. With safer and more efficient roads, Bentleigh will be an even better place to live (for current and future residents), especially for those making the daily commute to the CBD.

If you're interested in purchasing real estate in Bentleigh, get in touch with Matt Hurlston at Ray White Carnegie. His insights could be useful for finding suitable property in the local community in the coming months.